A 28-year-old Brooklyn man, Jason Sargeant, faces multiple charges, including assault, reckless endangerment, and criminal possession of a weapon, following a Christmas Eve slashing at Grand Central Terminal. He was arraigned Wednesday night and held on $150,000 bail.
According to police, Sargeant activated the emergency brake on a No. 5 train arriving at Grand Central around 10:15 p.m. He allegedly yelled, “(expletive) all these people,” before slashing a 42-year-old man on the northbound 4/5/6 train platform. The victim suffered a severe wrist laceration, bled profusely, required a tourniquet, and was transported to Bellevue Hospital for treatment, where he remains due to potential nerve damage.
Sargeant then proceeded upstairs, where he punched a 26-year-old woman in the face and slashed her neck with a knife, causing a minor wound. She was treated and released from the hospital. Both victims are expected to recover.
An MTA police officer apprehended Sargeant. Mayor Eric Adams commented on the incident, stating that Sargeant has a history of mental illness and highlighting the need for improved involuntary removal processes and increased long-term housing for individuals with mental health issues. He emphasized the importance of addressing these concerns in Albany.